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A national survey suggesting one in 10 emergency physicians has left the specialty is no surprise to a longtime Perth doctor.
Dr. Allan Drummond, an emergency physician at the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital, says the pressures driving doctors away have been building for more than 25 years.
The 2025 survey found nearly half of respondents had reduced their clinical hours, while 20 per cent had taken time away from emergency medicine. Women and younger doctors reported higher levels of burnout.
Dr. Drummond says many emergency physicians no longer believe working conditions will improve.
Drummond says hospital crowding is one of the biggest challenges. Admitted patients often remain on emergency stretchers because no inpatient bed is available, leaving staff to treat new arrivals in hallways and other unsuitable areas.
He says longer waits also increase frustration among patients and families. Verbal abuse is common, while physical violence has occurred at both the Perth and Smiths Falls sites.
Drummond believes the COVID-19 pandemic also changed how many health-care workers viewed their profession.
Drummond says emergency workers can often find positions elsewhere in health care offering more predictable hours, less pressure and better compensation.
He says nurses and physicians have already left locally, threatening a team built around strong skills and a commitment to serving the community.
Drummond says governments have understood the causes of emergency department overcrowding for decades but have failed to address hospital capacity and the needs of an aging population.
